A Look At The Syracuse Orange

Next meeting: The Orange and UConn will play in Connecticut this season. Syracuse has not defeated the Huskies since Jan. 2, 1996 at the Manley Field House in Syracuse, N.Y. UConn has won the last 19, two last season, including a 77-41 win in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament at the XL Center. That extended UConn's winning streak at the time to 70, which tied its previous national Division I record.

Last season: The Orange (25-11) finished eighth in the Big East (7-9) and saw their season end at the Women's National Invitation Tournament with a 78-52 quarterfinal loss to at Michigan. The Orange had won more than one postseason game for the first time ever to conclude with its most wins since it began competing in the NCAA in 1981-82.

The Orange were led by senior forward Nicole Michael, the only player in program history to twice score at least 500 points in a single season. Michael became SU's all-time leading scorer (1787) and rebounder (996).

Michael was one of 31 honorable-mention All-American selections by The Associated Press. She started all 35 games in which she appeared and ranked first in scoring (14.3), rebounds (7.8), three-point baskets (58) and three-point field goal percentage (.341). Michael had a team-high 25 double-figure games, including a team-high five 20-plus point contests

Who's coming, who's going

Michael's loss is huge for the Orange because she personified the production and toughness coach Quentin Hillsman demands. The Orange also honored its three other seniors, Vionca Murray, Juanita Ward and Lynnise Nixon but returns nine letter winners in 2010-11, led by senior guard Erica Morrow and sophomore center Kayla Alexander.

Hillsman also named Kelly Gibson an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Gibson brings a WNBA championship and international experience to a the staff.

Gibson was an all-conference player at Maryland. She earned ACC honorable mention in 1999 and was on the 1996 ACC All-Rookie Team, despite enduring three ACL injuries during her career.

She played internationally in Russia and Israel and also had a successful WNBA career with the Houston Comets. A Comet from 2000-2004, Gibson helped win the 2000 WNBA championship and ranked in the top-10 on Houston's all-time games played chart.